Mimi Johnson, vocal opponent to the newly erected cell tower in Nucla, shared with the Forum she contacted Nucla Town Hall that she was conducting a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA).
In the past, she’s worried about radiation and harmful effects of the tower, especially since it’s in close proximity to new Nucla’s K-12 school. Additionally, she’s said she has concerns about the town acting unethically in its communication and decision-making leading up to the tower’s approval. Most recently, though, she’s concerned that former town manager Melissa Lampshire is still involved, or has been involved, in the town’s work with the cell tower, even though she resigned in the fall.
In an email sent to Nucla Town Hall May 21, which included the trustees and town staff, Johnson requested “account termination records” as they pertain to Lampshire. Johnson wants to know the “exact date and time that Lampshire’s access to all Town of Nucla systems was deactivated, suspended, or terminated following her resignation.” She wants details on email accounts, town portals and management systems, plus shared drives.
She also asked for “login and activity records” for Lampshire from the date of her resignation to the present, as well as “access modification records” that would show whether her system access was “retained, extended, or modified, following her resignation, and the identity of any town official who authorized such retention or modification.”
Additionally, Johnson requested “internal correspondence” to view “emails, memos, messages, or other correspondence between town officials, staff, or third parties regarding the status of Melissa Lampshire’s system access following her resignation.”
And, Johnson included “contract-related communications,” specifically records that would show “any involvement, communication, or action taken by Melissa Lampshire regarding the 5G tower contract following the date of her resignation.”
Johnson told officials at Nucla Town Hall in that email the CORA request was a new one, and she gave them three days to produce the materials.
On May 27, Johnson contacted the Forum again with news that she followed up with her CORA request, letting Nucla’s trustees and staff know that they failed to honor the deadline. She said she received some information, but only new Town Manager Jessica Davis’ user report.
What happens next?
Johnson told the Forum the information she requested must be produced. She said she thinks other documents exist, and if Lampshire has been involved, the town acted illegally and the tower could be removed as a result. She added people in West End communities are talking about the tower, and rumors are circulating about what’s happening at Nucla Town Hall.
The Nucla cell tower is not yet live.
There is a meeting June 9 with officials from West End Public Schools, and Johnson plans to be there for it at Nucla Community Center. She will bring information she’s gathered from experts that state cell towers, even if the FCC determine them to be of no harm, still recommend they be established at least 1,500 feet from a school.
“We need to just move the tower,” she said. “The school is looking at 30 kids leaving.”
Johnson added she is no longer organizing an alternative school to avoid the cell tower’s radiation. She said she doesn’t want her school to be the impetus for kids leaving, as the effect will have a “trickle-down” effect in the community with various negative impacts.
In response, Davis told the Forum June 2 "the assumption that Melissa Lampshire is conducting unauthorized town business or managing wireless infrastructure is incorrect."
"Following her retirement, Lampshire agreed to assist as a short-term consultant on three specific, transitional items because of her direct involvement in them throughout 2025: the 2026 budget preparation, the 2026 municipal election transition and the CDOT Main Street Revitalization Project (Phase 1)," Davis said. "For the election, I utilized state-level resources, rather than calling upon her. For the 2026 budget and CDOT project, she has met with me exactly four times since October 9, 2025, strictly to ensure a smooth administrative transition as directed by the board. She is not handling cell tower administration."
Regarding recent CORA requests, Davis said, "the Town of Nucla fully respects and complies with state transparency laws. However, compiling public records takes time away from daily municipal operations. Fulfilling repetitive requests for documents that do not exist, or dedicating staff hours to chasing unsubstantiated rumors, ultimately diverts valuable time and taxpayer resources away from the essential services we owe to the citizens of Nucla."
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